Colouring Charges
There are several terms in heraldry which relate to the patterning and colouration of the field or charges:
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bordure compony argent and gules Single row of alternating white and red |
bordure counter-compony argent and gules Double row of alternating white and red |
fess chequy gules and argent Three rows (or more) of alternating red and white |
apple tree proper A device shown in its natural colours is termed proper |
a lion rampant per pale counter-charged or and gules Alternating gold and red |
gules masoned sable A brick pattern masoned in the colour of the mortar lines. |
Semy
The entire field or a charge may be strewn or "semy" with small versions of other charges. Some of these patterns have their own specific name, others are just "semy of ..." and the name of the charge used.
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fretty
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billetty |
goutty or gutty |
masculy |
crusily |
semy of roses |
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semy-de-lys |
semy of crescents |
semy of trefoils |
semy of bezants |
semy of hearts |
semy of mullets pierced |
Diapering
Diapering in heraldry has no technical affect on the arms of the shield. It refers to the artistic patterning of an area of tincture, and should be done subtly so as not to detract from the overall design of the arms.
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| These three shields are identical from a heraldic perspective | Diapered field with a saltire lozengy | Diapering and ermine | This diapering is not so desirable, as it could be mistaken for a field fretty | ||
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| Three examples of diapering in the stained glass windows at Winchester Castle | |||||
Charges